grill removal

[kkswow12]

hi, is there a thread here somewhere on the procedure to remove the 3 front grilles? seems all start with the grills already out and i need to know how and where those secret little clips or tabs that need to be pushed or moved or whatever are, thanks in advance. kk

[therock88]

hi, is there a thread here somewhere on the procedure to remove the 3 front grilles? seems all start with the grills already out and i need to know how and where those secret little clips or tabs that need to be pushed or moved or whatever are, thanks in advance. kk

To get the grill(s) out, you have to remove the front bumper cover. Once removed (not very difficult to do)...Then there are just plastic compression tabs on the underside that allow you to pull the grills off from the back. They are easy to break do be careful.

Attached is a diagram of what comes off to remove the bumper.

Good luck.

DC

Edited July 17, 2011 by therock88

[Hijack]

I actually just did this yesterday to install some aftermarket mesh grills. It's quite simple really and there's a decent video of the steps on Youtube. Just look up "996 front bumper removal".

Tools needed:

Philips head screw driver

90 degree ratchet with torx head bit (number 15 I think?)

Flat blade screw driver

Needle nose pliers

Clean, soft towels

A beer

1. Remove side marker lights by pushing them slightly forward and pop the back ends outward.

2. Unclip them from their wires by pushing the metal retaining clip inwards and pulling off the connector.

3. Remove the single phillips head screw from the front corner of the marker light slot on both sides of the car.

4. Remove the single phillips head screw from the bottom corner of the bumper lip on each side inside the wheel wells

5. Remove the pop-faster from each forward wheel-well cover right were the back end of the marker lights would be. Using a flat head screw driver, pop out the pop-tab fastener head and then pull out the entire fastener with pliers.

6. Remove all four torx head screws from the front wheel well covers on each side. Push this cover towards the center of the car to get the outside edge out from behind the back edge of the bumper. In order to get these off MUCH easier, you'll have to turn your wheels completely left for the left cover and then turn them completely right for the right cover. This will give you much more room to work.

7. Inside the marker light recess, you'll see a metal clip (bottom edge, directly in the center of the recess. A phillips head screw is attached vertically here from INSIDE the bumper. This is the reason you removed the wheel well covers to remove it.

8. Under the front of the bumper, there are 6 torx head screws. Remove those. This may cause the front wheel well covers to fall completely to the ground. Don't worry about it. They're relatively easy to line up to reattach.

9. Open your hood and on the top edge of the bumper, you'll see 4 retention pieces (they're not screws) holding the weather stripping on that your hood release lever sticks through. Turn them 90 degrees and pull them out of the stripping.

10. Pull out the weather stripping by grabbing and end by the lights and pulling firmly, but don't yank.

11. Once the strip is out, there are two phillips head screws at each corner of the hood going down into the top of the bumper. Remove those.

12. Pull the bumper straight forward. Have several large clean towels to set the bumper down on so you don't scratch it up.

Removal of the grills is pretty self explanitory from here. Using a flat head screwdriver, go around each grill and push the plastic retention tabs towards the outside of the grill and pull up a bit so they don't reseat in their holes. The corner grills also have a small metal clip on the inner top corner. Just use the handle of the screwdriver and give the grill a quick smack from the inside to pop them out of the clip.

Done.

Unlike other cars I've seen, you don't have to worry about aligning the bumper when you put it back on. All screw holes are direct mount (round, not oval like regular body panels to allow you to shift them around slightly). Just pay attention to how the top edge of the bumper fits in the groove at the hood opening and over the lip at the marker light positions. You'll see exactly what I'm talking about when you look at it.

Doing it by myself, it took 25 minutes the first time. Now, I can do it in about 10 minutes.

Edited July 18, 2011 by Hijack

[Loren]

996TT bumper is very similar to the 996 bumper for removal. As I recall the grills are held in place by small metal clips (from the backside).

[kkswow12]

thanks gents, will be taking this on come the weekend...